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Red River Valley

Traditional American Folk Song

A folk song and cowboy music standard of uncertain origins that has gone by different names (such as "Cowboy Love Song", "Bright Sherman Valley", "Bright Laurel Valley", "In the Bright Mohawk Valley", and "Bright Little Valley"), depending on where it has been sung.

Edith Fowke offers anecdotal evidence that the song was known in at least five Canadian provinces before 1896. This finding led to speculation that the song was composed at the time of the 1870 Wolseley Expedition to Manitoba's northern Red River Valley. It expresses the sorrow of a local woman (possibly a Métis) as her soldier lover prepares to return to the east.

The earliest known written manuscript of the lyrics, titled "The Red River Valley", bears the notations "Nemaha 1879" and "Harlan 1885." Nemaha and Harlan are the names of counties in Nebraska, and are also the names of towns in Iowa.

The song appears in sheet music, titled "In the Bright Mohawk Valley", printed in New York in 1896 with James J. Kerrigan as the writer. The tune and lyrics were collected and published in Carl Sandburg's 1927 American Songbag.

In 1925, Carl T. Sprague, an early singing cowboy from Texas, recorded it as "Cowboy Love Song" (Victor 20067, August 5, 1925), but it was fellow Texan Jules Verne Allen's 1929 "Cowboy's Love Song" (Victor 40167, March 28, 1929), that gave the song its greatest popularity. Allen himself thought the song was from Pennsylvania, perhaps brought over from Europe.

Another important recording in this song's history was the 1927 Columbia Records master (15206-D) performed by Hugh Cross and Riley Puckett, under the actual title of "Red River Valley". This was the very first commercially available recording of this song under its most familiar title, and was the inspiration for many of the recordings that followed. [

    Release Date: 1885


Red River Valley

Red River Valley

Now available for men's voices! Set in a haunting, contemporary style, this American favorite is an excellent choice for young choir concert and festival programing.

Voicing: TBB


Red River Valley

Red River Valley

Set in a haunting, contemporary style, this American favorite is an excellent choice for young choirs' concert and festival programing.

Voicing: SAB


Red River Valley

Red River Valley

The University of Pittsburgh Mens Glee Club, Richard Teaster, conductor



Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-6 of 6 items.


Mitch Miller : The Mitch Miller Community Songbook : 2- and 3-Part : Songbook : 723188900275  : 00-CN0027

Mitch Miller : The Mitch Miller Community Songbook

A collection for group singing for all occasions.

Songlist: Alouette, America, America, The Beautiful, Au Clair de la Lune, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Big Rock Candy Mountain, Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home, Birch Tree, Blues in the Night, British Grenadiers, Broom, Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, Cantique de Noel, Careless Love, Charleston, Christmas Is Coming, Cielito Lindo, Come Follow, Come Ye Thankful People, Dancing in the Dark (from "The Band Wagon"), Dear Old Girl, Down by the Riverside, Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes, Fine and Dandy, First Nowell, From Ill Do Thou Defend Me, Gal I Left Behind Me, Galway Piper, Give Me Your Tired Your Poor, and more

More details
Voicing: 2- and 3-Part | Performed by Mitch Miller | 4317b | Songbook | $14.95


Paul Yoder : Sing Along With the Barbershop Book : TTBB : Songbook : V41

Paul Yoder : Sing Along With the Barbershop Book

Forty two classics by noted arranger and director Paul Yoder

Songlist: Aloha Oe, Aura Lee, A Bird in a Gilded Cage, Camptown Medley, Way Down Yonder in the Cornfield, Camptown Races, In the Evening by the Moonlite, Gypsy Love Song, I Love You Truly, In the Good Old Summer Time, Judgement Day, Climbin' Up the Mountain, Ride the Chariot, Mandy Lee, My Wild Irish Rose, Old McDonald Had a Band, Old New York, Sidewalks of New York, The Band Played On, The Bow'ry, On the Banks of the Wabash, On the Railroad, One, Two, Three, Four, Santa Lucia, Tell Me Why, That's Where the Money Goes, To the Ladies, Dear Evalina, Juanita, Sweet Genevieve, and more

More details
Voicing: TTBB | 6231b | Songbook | $6.95


Various Arrangers : The Library of Family Singalongs : Unison : Songbook : 752187986591 : 0825634989 : 14019035

Various Arrangers : The Library of Family Singalongs

A treasury of familiar songs that everyone loves to sing. Here are over 160 favorite folk songs, golden hits, songs for children, holiday songs, carols, and best-loved songs from around the world. This wonderful collection will provide a wealth of singing enjoyment for the entire family. Whether you want to celebrate a special day, put on a family show, or just make music together, this book is sure to be a favorite in your home library.

Songlist: Amazing Grace, America, The Beautiful, Battle Hymn Of The Republic, Blow The Man Down, Blue Tail Fly, Buffalo Gals, Camptown Races, The Caissons Go Rolling Along, Carry Me Back To Virginny, Clementine, Down In The Valley, The Erie Canal, Git Along Little Dogies, I'm A Yankee Doodle Dandy, I Ride An Old Paint, Let My People Goal, L'il Liza Jan, Michael Row The Boat Ashore, Oh Susanna, The Old Folks At Home, The Old Gray Mare, On The Banks Of The Wabash, On Top Of Old Smoky, Over There, Rally Round The Flag, Red River Valley, The Riddle Song, She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain, Shenandoah American Folk Song, Streets Of Laredo American Cowboy Song, and more

More details
Voicing: Unison | 7884b | Songbook | $31.95 ON SALE $27.95


Various Arrangers : Barbershop Songs : TTBB : Songbook : 752187402701 : 0825620678 : 14003313

Various Arrangers : Barbershop Songs

The 83 songs in this collection can be sung by any quartet of four part chorus, male or mixed. The melody can be found in the upper part except where it is indicate.

Songlist: All Through the Night, Alouette, Always Take a Mother's Advice, America (My Country 'Tis), Annie Laurie, Ave Maria, The Band Played On, Barbara Allen, The Battle Cry of Freedom, Beautiful Dreamer, The Bell Doth Toll, Ben Bolt (Sweet Alice), Billy Boy, Blow the Man Down, The Bowery, Canadian Boatsong, Captain Jinks, Clementine, Come Home, Father, Comin' Thru the Rye, Cradle Song (Wiegenlied), Daisies Won't Tell, Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two), Death is a Long, Long Sleep, Deep River, Down Went McGinty, Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes, First Noel, For He's a Jolly Good Fellow, Go Down Moses, and more

More details
Voicing: TTBB | 9028b | Songbook | $14.95


Amy Appleby : America's All-Time Favorite Songs for God and Country : Solo : Songbook : 752187985310 : 0825634741 : 14001791

Amy Appleby : America's All-Time Favorite Songs for God and Country

Nowhere else will you find gathered together into one priceless treasury so many of your favorite American folk songs, patriotic anthems and marches, heart songs, sea chanteys, colonial songs, Civil War songs, hymns, gospel songs, spirituals, Christmas carols, memorial songs, and sacred classics. This comprehensive volume includes over 175 full piano arrangements with complete lyrics and chord symbols, and is illustrated with woodcuts, engravings and drawings throughout. Spiral bound.

Songlist: O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy To The World, Auld Lang Syne, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, I Saw Three Ships, Amazing Grace, Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, O Day Of Rest And Gladness, Coventry Carol, HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS, GOOD KING WENCESLAS, BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC, HOME ON THE RANGE, RED RIVER VALLEY, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, TELL ME WHY, TAPS, ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT, BLOW THE MAN DOWN, CARRY ME BACK TO OLD VIRGINNY, DANNY BOY, DEEP RIVER, GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION, MARY HAD A BABY, MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN, MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME, NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN, SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON, STEAL AWAY, WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN, and more

More details
Voicing: Solo | 20404b | Songbook | $24.95 | PVG


Joan Frey Boytim : Easy Songs for the Beginning Baritone / Bass Part II : Solo : Songbook & CD : 884088075071 : 1423412168 : 50486245

Joan Frey Boytim : Easy Songs for the Beginning Baritone / Bass Part II

This series now has a new "Part II" for each voice type, at the same level as the original volumes. This is preparatory material for The First Book of Solos series, with modest ranges and all songs in English, including very easy art songs, folksong arrangements and vintage popular songs. The song selection is completely different for each voice type with 18-20 songs per volume.

Songlist: Autumn, The Colorado Trail, Farewell, For Me And My Gal, Give My Regards To Broadway, Gypsy Love Song, The Happy Lover, He'd Have To Get Under - Get Out And Get Under, Her Rose, Hey, Ho, the Wind And The Rain, It Was A Lover And His Lass, Kashmiri Song, The Man Who Broke The Bank at Monte Carlo, Red River Valley, The Road To Paradise, The Sailor's Life, Soft Dews From Heaven Falling, Sylvia, The Water Is Wide

More details
Voicing: Solo | 5069b | Songbook & CD | $16.95 | Voice and Piano


Individual Folios

Displaying 1-5 of 5 items.


Red River Valley : SATB divisi : Jeffrey Douma : Songbook & CD : 50499570 : 884088987923 : 1480371203

Jeffrey Douma : Red River Valley

This arrangement of the beloved folk song was first premiered by the Yale Glee Club in the fall of 2006, and has since become an audience favorite. Probably referring to the Red River that flows north between Minnesota and North Dakota into Lake Winnipeg, the sentiment expressed by the text is immediately understood by anyone who has had to bid farewell too soon to a loved one.

Arranger: Jeffrey Douma

More details
Voicing: SATB divisi | Sheet Music | $2.25 | With Piano |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 50499570


Red River Valley : TTBB : Timothy Jon Tharaldson : Timothy Jon Tharaldson : Sheet Music : SBMP886 : 964807008860

Timothy Jon Tharaldson : Red River Valley

A gorgeous arrangement of this beloved folk song.

Composer: Timothy Jon Tharaldson

More details
Voicing: TTBB | Sheet Music | $1.95 | A Cappella | video
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| SBMP886


Red River Valley : SAB : Roger Emerson : Sheet Music : 00139868 : 888680039691

Roger Emerson : Red River Valley

Set in a haunting, contemporary style, this American favorite is an excellent choice for young choirs' concert and festival programing.

Arranger: Roger Emerson

More details
Voicing: SAB | Sheet Music | $2.35 | With Piano |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 00139868 | Digital Version Available| Voicetrax CD Available
Other Voicings: 2-Part, TBB, 2-Part, TBB


Red River Valley : TB : Laura Farnell : Sheet Music : 08551911 : 884088105594

Laura Farnell : Red River Valley

Warm harmonies and well-crafted vocal parts will make your middle school men's chorus sound their very best. This well-known folk song is designed to ensure success and makes a great choice for contest and festival programs.Available separately: TB and VoiceTrax CD. Performance Time: Approx. 2:10.

Arranger: Laura Farnell

More details
Voicing: TB | Sheet Music | $2.65 | With Piano |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 08551911 | Voicetrax CD Available


Red River Valley : SSAB : Ruth Elainen Schram : Sheet Music : 15-2405H : 9781429102155

Ruth Elainen Schram : Red River Valley

Lush harmonies set a mournful mood for this creative partnering of the American folk songs "Red River Valley" and "Down in the Valley." The two tunes meld unexpectedly in the last verse, the use of echo fortifies the "valley" theme, and dynamic contrast supports the poignancy of the lovelorn text.

Arranger: Ruth Elainen Schram | Country: United States

More details
Voicing: SSAB | Sheet Music | $1.95 |
(Minimum order 4 copies)
| 15-2405H
Other Voicings: SATB

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